Some of it may surprise you. Not the Rod Stewart part, though. It’s true what they say about early MTV being too Rod Stewarty.

The Buggles – Video Killed the Radio Star

Pat Benatar – You Better Run

Rod Stewart – She Won’t Dance

The Who – You Better You Bet

Phd – Little Susie’s on the Up

Cliff Richard – We Don’t Talk Anymore

The Pretenders – Brass in Pocket

Todd Rundgren – Time Heals

REO Speedwagon – Take it on the Run

Styx – Rockin’ the Paradise

Robiin Lane & The Chartbusters – When Things Go Wrong

Split Enz – History Never Repeats.

.38 Special – Hold on Loosely

April Wine – Just Between You & Me

Rod Stewart – Sailing

Iron Maiden – Iron Maiden

REO Speedwagon – Keep on Loving You

The Pretenders – Message of Love

Lee Ritenour – Mr. Briefcase

The Cars – Double Life

Phil Collins – In the Air Tonight

Robert Palmer – Looking for Clues

The Shoes – Too Late

Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty – Stop Draggin’ my Heart Around.

Rupert Hines – Surface Tension

Madness – One Step Beyond

Gerry Rafferty – Baker Street

Pat Benatar – I’m Gonna Follow You

Tom Johnson – Savannah Nights

Rockestra – Lucille

Styx – The Best of Times

Carly Simon – Vengeance

Iron Maiden – Wrathchild

Blotto – I Wanna Be a Lifeguard

Rod Stewart – Passion

Elvis Costello – Oliver’s Army

REO Speedwagon – Don’t Let Him Go

The Silencers – Remote Control/I’m Too Legal

Juice Newton – Angel of the Morning

Rockestra – Little Sister

Bootcamp – Hold on to the Night

Cliff Richard – Dreaming

Lee Ritenour – Is it You?

Fleetwood Mac – Tusk

Michael Stanley Band – He Can’t Love You

REO Speedwagon – Tough Guys

Blondie – Rapture

The Who – Don’t Let Go the Coat

Rod Stewart – Ain’t Love a Bitch

The Pretenders – Talk of the Town

Rainbow – Can’t Happen Here

Andrew Gold – Thank You for Being a Friend

Gerry Rafferty – Bring it all Home

April Wine – Sign of the Gypsy Queen

Kate Bush – The Man With the Child in His Eyes

David Bowie – Ashes to Ashes

April Wine – Just Between You and Me

The Specials – Rat Race

Talking Heads – Once in a Lifetime

Bootcamp – Victim

Rod Stewart – Tonight’s the Night

Nick Lowe – Cruel to be Kind

This list I found matches up exactly with what I’ve been watching, except Classic just played Vapors’ “Turning Japanese,” Michael Johnson’s “Bluer Than Blue,” and (according to Conrad) Genesis’ “Turn It On Again.” So either the channel’s cheating or my list is incomplete. (I think they’re cheating.)

And since VH1 Classic is just airing the videos, not the VJ segments — I know, I was disappointed too — at least we can count on YouTube.